Is your hair is really fragile? Then don't do it. Especially if you go really light like blonde/ light brown.

Is your hair really dry? Don't do it. Focus on getting your moisturizing regimen down really tight before you take the color plunge.

I say all this because the first time I colored years ago, I didn't take care of it properly. I didn't strengthen it with occassional protein treatments. My moisturizing game was abyssmal so my hair suffered. I had to cut several inches off.

I colored again a last year because I knew my hair. By "knew my hair" I mean, when it needed protein, when it has too much, how to keep it moisturized for days, etc. I haven't run tino any problems this time around.

I just henna'd my hair with a premixed henna from my local indian grocer (www.shinehenna.com) (I didn't wanna use regular henna due to my fear of it making my hair too red)
My hair is now a mahogany brownish color in direct light and is quite a bit stronger.

Hi there, I'll be watching this thread. I'm pretty certain that I'll be coloring my hair soon--I don't want a drastic color change, but I do want to cover the grays I have near my temples. I've been debating about henna because I've heard that it doesn't react well with thick, coarse hair (which is my hair type) and I have heard that the color it gives gray hairs can appear brassy and unnatural. On the flip side, I know that commercial dyes can give me even color, but it can also be drying/damaging.